February 20 2015 / 1 Adar 5775 Volume 19 – Number 6 For the year ahead, fasten your south african seatbelts! South Africans should be worrying about the economy. (page 4) Jewish Report www.sajr.co.za Photo: Ilan Ossendryver Photo: Proudly Jewish, proudly South African The energy was palpable at a march in Cape Town last week to protest against BDS-SA for inviting terrorist Leila Khaled to do a fundraising tour for them in South Africa. Mary Kluk, chairman of the South Jewish Board of Deputies, who organised the protest, said in her address that BDS was importing its own narrow and distorted agenda of demonising Israel and that its actions were leading to a conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism. The protesters chanted: “No to Terrorism” and expressed their pride in being “proudly South African, and proudly Jewish”. Demonstrators pictured include (front row) Li Boiskin, past chairman of the Cape SAJBD; Gwynne Robins, senior researcher at the Cape SAJBD; Wendy Kahn, national director of the SAJBD; and Mary Kluk, national chairman of the SAJBD. See page 4. DUT SRC has to backtrack Khaled’s visit leaves bitter Denmark synagogue attack Maligned Israel comes up Irwin Cotler: Keynote on anti-Semitic demand taste seen as ‘wake-up call’ smelling roses speaker at SAZF Conference DUT student leaders had to Terrorist Leila Khaled comes up Police officers with machine- South Africa has a lamentable Champion of human rights in apologise for a demand that with bizarre conspiracy theory guns are an uncommon sight in record for opposing global tyranny. Canada and across the globe, Prof Jewish students should leave. regarding Israel. Denmark. Cotler is no stranger to SA. 3 4 6 9 11 YOUR KEY TO SUCCESS IN Linksfield, Senderwood, St. Andrews, Bedford Park and Surrounds SOLD SOLD SOLD R6 500 000 R4 600 000 R4 500 000 011 731 0300 For exceptional marketing, unparalleled service and positive results call Hilton and Lourayne FIRZT! www.firzt.co.za Hilton Steinfeld 082 455 8630 | [email protected] - Lourayne Hersch 082 780 0253 | [email protected] 2 SA JEWISH REPORT Community 20 – 27 February 2015 KASHRUT ALERT Mikvah Maayan Ganim launches WHEN the LIGhts GO Out ON SHABBAT In response to “the many inquiries” regarding Shabbat cooking during periods of load shedding, the Beth Din has issued a detailed instruction: ‘A Guide to Teaching Mikvah’ 1. The food should be fully cooked on Friday and placed on a blech (the O WN CORRESPONDENT metal covering placed over the fire or the electric plate) before Shabbat commences. Two years ago, Great Park Mikvah Maayan Ganim which was 2. If there is a power cut either immediately preceeding or during Shabbat built in memory of Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg who were and the electricity is restored and re-heats the food, it may be eaten even if killed in Mumbai in a terrorist attack, opened its doors at the the food had gone cold in the interim. Great Park Synagogue in Johannesburg. 3. Even though the resumption of electricity is done by a gentile, this does not pose an issue in terms of “Bishul Akum”. Some expressed concern that a maximum of two to three 4. If the food was not cooked at all before Shabbat, it must be left on the women might use the mikvah and that the cost would not be blech and when the electricity is restored and cooks the food on Shabbat, it justified. At present over 100 women are, in fact, using the facil- may be eaten. ity, Great Park said in a media release. 5. With regard to hot water, if the electric urn did not boil before Shabbat “Great Park Synagogue community has seen first-hand how due to load shedding, a pot of water should be placed on the blech before the mitzvah of mikvah and family purity has been a catalyst Shabbat and when the electricity resumes and boils the water, it may be for growth and spiritual development for many individuals and used. families.” 6. In the event of 4 or 5 above, if you lift the lid on Shabbat and discover The shul says that after the initial opening of the mikvah, crea- Sheina Hazdan (centre with the laptop) with delegates at the book that the food is not fully cooked or the water is not fully boiled, you may launch at the International Women’s Conference Resource Fair, tive ways had to be found to continue to engage the community neither remove some of it nor replace the lid, since this would hasten the Lubavitch Headquarters, New York. in learning about this mitzvah. A website - www.greatmikvah. cooking. 7. In cases of necessity, during the period of load shedding only, one would com - was set up and a newsletter was launched to share inspi- tion has been a useful tool guiding the discussion about mikvah. be permitted to move any LED light (that is either already on from before rational thoughts. Thus was born “A Guide to Teaching Mikvah: a Visual Pres- Shabbat, or that comes on due to the load shedding during Shabbat) to “The annual women’s spa-day features prominent speakers, entation & Teachers Manual” authored by Goldie Simpson and another room where it is required. including women in the community who have recently embraced published by Mikvah Maayan Ganim, Great Park. The launch Furthermore, in such extenuating circumstances as above, one is also mikvah and many other mitzvot. took place last Sunday at the International Conference of Wom- permitted to ask a gentile to remove the wire from the electric socket, or in “Many women who previously did not know about mikvah or en Leaders and Teachers at Lubavitch Headquarters in New York. the absence of a gentile, one is permitted to remove the wire oneself in an did not know how it could become a part of their lives, appreci- “This publication is endorsed by Chief Rabbi Warren Gold- unusual manner (for instance using one’s elbows), so as to be able to move ated a short session or two, outlining the basic process required stein, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and rabbis and rebbetzens world- the lamp to where it is required. to visit the mikvah. A short PowerPoint presentation was cre- wide,” the release said. 8. In cases of necessity, should the electricity be restored around 18:15, ated for this purpose.” before one has accepted Shabbat, one is permitted to postpone the Women also asked to learn one-on-one. The visual presenta- • F or more information, e-mail [email protected] acceptance of Shabbat for all preparations of Shabbat, until the times specified below, as long as one’s community would not have recited More news on our website www.sajr.co.za “Mizmor Shir” which appears at the end of the Kabbalat Shabbat Service. My identity crisis Parshat Terumah metrically opposed. At one moment I’m soaring box, a middle wooden box and an outer golden scious expression in thought and speech and with inspiration, reaching for all that is holy and box. In effect, the bulk of its construction was our behaviour and actions. Rabbi Pini Hecht true and the next moment I’m consumed with wooden but on the inside and from without it The message we are to learn from study- Assistant Rabbi the desire for some immediate gratification. was gold. ing this holy vessel is that, despite what we Marais Road Shul The results are confusing and frustrating and While gold and wood may complement may be drawn to or tempted by, we ought to Sea Point at times we become anxious and depressed. If I each other, these two materials differ quite remember that at our core we are pure and am - as we all tend to think - a good person, why drastically. Gold is beautiful and shines; it golden. When I remember to identify the real Who is the real me? The one who sets my bed- am I drawn to such selfishness? And how do I is also one of the most resistant metals. It me with that core, then I am strengthened side alarm for an early morning rise determined reconcile the tension in order to remain upbeat won’t tarnish, discolour or crumble. Wood on and motivated to ensure my outside matches to fill my day with meaning? Or the one who hits and joyful? the other hand, although it too can be made my inside, that my every conscious thought the snooze button to relish a few more minutes Parshat Teruma relates the instruction from beautiful, is prone to rot and decay. speech and deed is golden and shines. under the covers? Hashem to build the Mishkan - a home for the The mystical teachings of Torah see in this Is the real me the one who is sensitive to Divine that would be placed at the centre of the construction a parallel to three layers of the the needs of others, committed to sharing and Jewish encampment in the desert. Now beyond human being. At the core each of us has a Shabbat Times uplifting? Or is the real me the one who turns the physical structure, the Mishkan and its holy pure golden neshama, a soul that shines and February 20 /1 Adar a blind eye to the collector supporting a worthy vessels, serve as a paradigm for individuals to never decays, one that remains singularly February 21 / 2 Adar cause? reach our own idyllic state and produce a place dedicated and connected to its Divine source. Parshat Terumah Am I the one whose sole aim in life is to for Hashem to rest within.